Yard and forecourt surfacing
Yards take turning tyres, pallet trucks and the odd spillage. The build has to suit the heaviest vehicle that uses it, and the drainage has to cope with the whole roof and yard area in a storm.
Yard and forecourt surfacing is dense asphalt laid over a deeper sub-base outside business premises, designed for vans, forklifts and deliveries, with channels and gullies to take away the water from a large sealed area.
What is included in yard tarmac surfacing?
- Survey of loads, turning areas and existing drainage
- Excavation and sub-base to suit vehicles
- Dense binder and surface course
- Channels and gullies, with interceptors where fuel is stored
- Thicker sections at gates, ramps and loading doors
- Lining for walkways and parking
How is it built?
How much does yard tarmac surfacing cost?
As a 2026 guide at our UK midpoint rate, £50–£85 per m² ex VAT. Edging, drainage and access are itemised separately where they apply.
| Item | Guide price (ex VAT) |
|---|---|
| New car park or yard: dig-out, 200–300 mm sub-base, binder and surface course | £50–£85 per m² (£60–£102 inc VAT) |
| Example: 150 m² yard | £8,250–£14,050 (£9,900–£16,850 inc VAT) |
| Example: 400 m² yard | £20,000–£34,000 (£24,000–£40,800 inc VAT) |
| Example: 800 m² yard | £36,800–£62,550 (£44,150–£75,050 inc VAT) |
Rates vary by region:
| Region | Guide (ex VAT) |
|---|---|
| London | £60–£102 per m² |
| South East | £55–£94 per m² |
| East of England | £52–£89 per m² |
| South West | £52–£88 per m² |
| West Midlands | £50–£85 per m² |
| East Midlands | £49–£83 per m² |
| North West | £48–£82 per m² |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £48–£82 per m² |
| North East | £46–£79 per m² |
| Wales | £48–£81 per m² |
| Scotland | £49–£83 per m² |
| Northern Ireland | £44–£75 per m² |
Guides only. Your survey turns these into a fixed written price. Full price list · Guide price tool
When it suits
- Light-industrial units and workshops
- Retail and trade forecourts
- Depots for vans and small trucks
Watch out for
- Forklift and HGV traffic need an engineered design
- Fuel or oil areas may need an interceptor
- Large new hard areas may need drainage approval
How long does it take and how long does it last?
- On site
- Often 1–2 weeks, phased around opening hours
- Lifespan
- Often 15 years or more with the right build
Do I need planning permission?
Householder permitted development covers houses only. Car parks, yards, flats and business premises follow normal planning rules: resurfacing an existing area on the same footprint is generally fine, while a new car park, a change of use or new drainage may need permission. Check with the planning authority before any new hard area.
What happens next?
Tell us about the job
Use the guide price tool, the form, WhatsApp or the phone. A postcode, rough size and a couple of photos are enough to start.
Survey and measure
We check the ground, levels, edges, drainage and access, and the planning and kerb position where it applies.
Written specification and price
You get an itemised quote listing every layer, the edging, drainage, waste and VAT. The price is fixed once the spec is agreed.
Build day
Dig-out and base first, then hot binder and surface course rolled in, edges finished and the site cleared. You get aftercare notes before we leave.
Yards and forecourts: questions
How much does it cost to tarmac a yard?
As a 2026 guide, about £50–£85 per m² excluding VAT for a new build on a small site; heavier loads, drainage and interceptors add to that.
Can tarmac take forklifts?
Yes, with the right thickness. Point loads from forklifts and trailer legs can dent standard surfaces, so loading areas are often built thicker or in concrete.
Can you work while we stay open?
Usually by phasing the yard and working at agreed times.
Where do we offer yard tarmac surfacing work?
Across the UK. Choose your area for local prices and towns.
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- Cornwall
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- County Durham
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater London
- Greater Manchester
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- North Yorkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Tyne and Wear
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- West Yorkshire
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
- Clwyd
- Dyfed
- Gwent
- Gwynedd
- Mid Glamorgan
- Powys
- South Glamorgan
- West Glamorgan
- Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
- Angus and Dundee
- Argyll and Bute
- Ayrshire
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Dunbartonshire
- Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Fife
- Forth Valley
- Glasgow
- Highland and Moray
- Lanarkshire
- Perth and Kinross
- Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
- Scottish Borders
- County Antrim
- County Armagh
- County Down
- County Fermanagh
- County Londonderry
- County Tyrone
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Send a postcode and a rough size and we'll arrange a survey. Every quote lists the layers, edging, drainage and VAT.
- Surface courseDEPTH + MIX
- Binder courseDEPTH + MIX
- Sub-baseDEPTH + MATERIAL
- Edges, drainage, VATITEMISED